Add Missing or Custom Display Resolution on Ubuntu

Purpose

This article gives the steps to add a missing or custom display resolution on Ubuntu 14. My example was when remotely connecting to my Ubuntu Vmware ESXi Guest it did not have 1920x1080 as a display option and the screen I was remotely connecting to the Ubuntu VM was 1920x1080.

Create New Resolution Mode

sudo cvt 1920 1080 60

Declare New Resolution

Part of the output should be similar to this: "Modeline "1920x1080_60.00" 173.00 1920 2048 2248 2576 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync" (w/o the quotes).

sudo xrandr --newmode "1920x1080_60.00" 173.00 1920 2048 2248 2576 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync

Determine Name of Display

sudo xrandr -q

Add New Resolution Mode to Display Device

sudo xrandr --addmode Virtual1 1920x1080_60.00

Change Display Resolution

1. Open System Settings
2. Select Display
3. Select new resolution 1920x1080 (16:9)
4. Select Apply

Sources

• http://askubuntu.com/questions/138408/how-to-add-display-resolution-fo-an-lcd-in-ubuntu-12-04-xrandr-problem